Here’s what we’re facing in terms of increases, albeit quite limited in comparison to other years. Where did all the savings come in to play? What is being cut? What is the impact on education and how will we be able to measure?

The test score achievement gap has widened. Our strategies are not working, and where there is limited success, the strategies aren’t working fast enough.

The current state budget shortfalls aren’t going to go away. In fact, they are going to get worse. It is going to be painful for all of us, and we can’t wait until it hits to make serious changes. The biggest factor to be mindful of is that when we make the inevitable cuts, we must ensure that those who can least afford to lose services are not the victims of political funny money.

Still digesting this one. It reflects the Kahlenberg argument of middle class families being able to raise the achievements of those in lower income situations. The criticism is that this assumes a deficit model, that poverty creates less of a person, when in fact poverty just means that someone has less stuff and fewer resources, but has a great deal of capacity and capability. We need to recognize that each child has value and each can learn. Providing the appropriate resources at the earliest age possible is a challenge that we should strive to meet. Many are meeting this challenge with innovative schools and a lot of sweat equity, but we still have a long way to go. All children deserve to learn, regardless of their bank account at birth.

In the NY Times, Thomas Friedman’s evaluation of the McKinsey report about the status of our nation’s schools and their relationship to the economy is a reiteration of the process that led us to A Nation at Risk and our current metrics of how our schools measure up globally. Friedman’s argument is that while there is innovation and reform, it is too scattered to be able to impact upon the system. (more…)

Entrepreneurship. Leadership. Are we doing this in our schools, our families and our communities? This is a really positive look at how to move forward and create a better, stronger economy. Plus, it doesn’t do the typical digging at my generation that many pessimists seem to do.

Here’s a breakdown of the costs involved with bus transportation vs. parent transportation in our local district. And the national analysis. Despite the numbers, there are a lot of people who drive their child to school. This parent relishes the extra, focused time with her child. In a large district like many here in the Hudson Valley, parents drive to avoid the long time - up to an hour each way - on the bus. (more…)

There is a lot of educational debate going on in our nation’s capital. The District of Columbia Public Schools are in a challenging contract negotiation. This editorial points out that the key thing that all sides need to keep in mind, and the essential component of the schools that is too often forgotten, is the education of our children. (more…)

Dear fellow New Paltz School District constituents,

KT Tobin Flusser is an outstanding candidate for our New Paltz Central School District board. Please join me in supporting KT at the polls, when we vote on Tuesday May 19, 2009 at the high school from noon to 9pm.  Committed, passionate and articulate, she has been attending board meetings regularly, keeping the board on task regarding the renovation of the Middle School. She has a keen understanding of the numbers surrounding not only the budget process, but also the proposals for renovation and an amazing ability to process the data and statistics thrown out into real world, applicable implications.

As a mother of three children in the district and an alumnus of and current employee at SUNY New Paltz, KT will provide a key connection to the university, one of the biggest and yet most underutilized assets in our community. Her position at the Center for Research, Regional Education and Outreach affords her the big-picture perspective of policy issues that impact upon and compete with our school district for funding. This understanding creates a substantial advantage in strategizing to build the strongest and most competitive program possible.

An integral part of New Paltz GreenWorks (A Town and Village committee charged with reducing our carbon footprint), KT has taken initiative on many carbon-footprint reducing activities. Her involvement with other community committees has helped us collaborate on projects served many times as a valuable connection to being more effective and efficient.

Mark your calendars to Vote for KT for New Paltz School Board!

Sincerely,

Nikki Koenig Nielson

Harvard’s Project Implicit. To be cliche, “The more you know.”